Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Salon: The telecom slayers


Salon Magazine features a recap of the ragtag, ad hoc crew that banded together to defeat the major telecommunications carriers bent on turning the Internet into cable television. The war over net neutrality featured a bonfire of $100 million in public relations funds, YouTube videos, "astroturf" responses, and some of the biggest whoppers ever told.

The carriers appear intent on dismantling the principle of net neutrality, a fundamental method that describes how the Internet works today. In the current environment, network traffic -- whether a video from AT&T or a Flash animation from an 18 year-old college student -- is all treated with equal privilege. Under the new telecommunications law, carriers hoped to levy tarriffs on content providers like Google and Yahoo who they saw as vulnerable to the duopoly of cable and DSL that control access to residential Internet users.

The carriers, through their thought-leaders like Christopher Yoo, expressed a vision where the Internet effectively became something akin to cable television. Or, even better for them, pay-per-view (PPV) TV.

Unfortunately for the carriers -- and fortunately for consumers -- a grassroots campaign spearheaded by Save the Internet stopped the nine-figure PR campaign in its tracks. At least for the moment...

Salon: The telecom slayers and Doug's Net Neutrality Index.

Wanted: John Wilkes Booth


A seller on eBay is featuring this incredible piece of Civil War memorabilia: a "Wanted" poster for President Abraham Lincoln's assassin dated April 20, 1865.

John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's assassin, was an immensely popular professional stage actor during the 1850's and 1860's. Imagine the fame surrounding someone like Tom Cruise and you can pretty much get the sense of Booth's popularity in his day. Booth, though, was a virulent Confederate sympathizer. As such, he was extremely agitated at the Civil War's outcome.

As a respected and popular actor, Booth had a personal relationship with the owner of Ford's Theater. On April 14, 1865, Booth discovered that Lincoln was scheduled to visit the theater that evening for a performance of Our American Cousin. During the play, at around 10pm, Booth snuck into the President's private box and shot him in the back of the head. Major Henry Rathbone, ostensibly a Presidential bodyguard, then struggled with Booth, who slashed him and then jumped from the box to the stage floor. Booth momentarily escaped, but was later hunted down by Union soldiers and cornered in a barn, which was set ablaze. Booth was dragged out of the fire and then unceremoniously shot.


The seller claims it is one of only two such posters currently known to exist. It is alleged to have been published by the War Department five days after Lincoln was murdered. The seller indicates that the original has been examined by an FBI document expert, the Surratt House Museum (Washington, DC) and the Smithsonian; all reportedly expressed interest and offered a tax credit, which was turned down by the seller.

The poster reads:

WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, APRIL 20, 1865

$100,000 REWARD!

THE MURDERER

OF OUR LATE BELOVED PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

IS STILL AT LARGE.

$50,000 REWARD!

WILL BE PAID BY THIS DEPARTMENT FOR HIS APPREHENSION, IN ADDITION TO ANY REWARD OFFERED

BY MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES OR STATE EXECUTIVES.

$25,000 REWARD!

WILL BE PAID FOR THE APPREHENSION OF JOHN H. SURRATT, ONE OF BOOTH'S ACCOMPLICES.

$25,000 REWARD!


WILL BE PAID FOR THE APPREHENSION OF DANIEL C. HARROLD, ANOTHER OF BOOTH'S ACCOMPLICES.

LIBERAL REWARDS WILL BE PAID FOR ANY INFORMATION THAT SHALL CONDUCE TO THE ARREST OF EITHER OF THE ABOVE NAMED CRIMINALS, OR THEIR ACCOMPLICES.

ALL PERSONS HARBORING OR SECRETING THE SAID PERSONS, OR EITHER OF THEM, OR AIDING OR ASSISTING THEIR CONCEALMENT OR ESCAPE, WILL BE TREATED AS ACCOMPLICES IN THE MURDER OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, AND SHALL BE SUBJECT TO TRIAL BEFORE A MILITARY COMMISSION AND THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.

LET THE STAIN OF INNOCENT BLOOD BE REMOVED FROM THE LAND BY THE ARREST AND PUNISHMENT OF THE MURDERERS.

ALL GOOD CITIZENS ARE EXHORTED TO AID PUBLIC JUSTICE ON THIS OCCASION. EVERY MAN SHOULD CONSIDER HIS OWN CONSCIENCE CHARGED WITH THIS SOLEMN DUTY, AND REST NEITHER NIGHT NOR DAY UNTIL IT BE ACCOMPLISHED.

EDWIN M. STANTON, SECRETARY OF WAR

DESCRIPTIONS- BOOTH IS 5 FEET 7 OR 8 INCHES HIGH, SLENDER BUILD, HIGH FOREHEAD, BLACK HAIR, BLACK EYES, AND WEARS A HEAVY BLACK MUSTACHE.

JOHN H. SURRATT IS ABOUT 5 FEET 8 INCHES. HAIR RATHER THIN AND DARK; EYES RATHER LIGHT; NO BEARD. WOULD WEIGH 145 OR 150 POUNDS. COMPLEXION RATHER PALE AND CLEAR, WITH COLOR IN HIS CHEEKS. WORE LIGHT CLOTHES OF FINE QUALITY. SHOULDERS SQUARE; CHEEK BONES RATHER PROMINENT; CHIN NARROW; EARS PROJECTING AT THE TOP; FOREHEAD RATHER LOW AND SQUARE, BUT BROAD. PARTS HIOS HAIR ON THE RIGHT SIDE; NECK RATHER LONG. HIS LIPS ARE FIRMLY SET. A SLIM MAN.

DANIEL C. HARROLD IS 23 YEARS OF AGE. 5 FEET 6 OR 7 INCHES HIGH, RATHER BROAD SHOULDERED, OTHERWISE LIGHT BUILT; DARK HAIR, LITTLE (IF ANY) MONSTACHE; DARK EYES; WEIGHS ABOUT 140 POUNDS.

eBay: Wanted Poster

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Tonight on 60 Minutes: Bob Woodward's State o' Denial



*tick* *tick* *tick* Tonight on 60 Minutes...


I'm Morley Safer and we'll be interviewing Bob Woodward about his startling new book State of Denial, a scathing rebuke of the Bush administration over Iraq, terrorism, and 9/11!


I'm Leslie Stahl and we'll also be discussing Woodward's new book, State of Denial, a blistering indictment of George W. Bush's leadership style... his dismissal of Andy Card's demands to fire Donald Rumsfeld... how he ignored Condi Rice when she complained Rumsfeld wasn't answering his phone; and other startling revelations!


I'm Steve Kroft with... -er- Joan Rivers. We'll dissect the shocking accusations in Woodward's book, State of Denial (available now at Barnes & Noble) which outlines the callous disregard by the Bush Administration of Maureen Dowd's repeated requests for interviews!


And I'm Mike Wallace. We'll discuss State of Denial and other Viacom products including Simon & Schuster's latest best-sellers and the full fall lineup on CBS!


That and Andy Rooney... after the break...

*tick* *tick* *tick*


Oven-baked good readin', just like Mama used to make:
Anchoress: CBS "free spech" - a barn-burner
Captain's Quarters: Political Dishonesty In Minnesota Politics
Rick Moran's House: Oy, What a Mess! Foley coverup and gambit that exposed it
STACLU: Frist Says Taliban Quote Was Out Of Context
Wizbang: What a peace of work

Monday, October 02, 2006

Another 60 Minutes infomercial: Woodward's State of Denial


The release of Bob Woodward's new book State of Denial is accompanied by an all-too-predictable ruckus. It follows the traditional CBS-Viacom-Simon & Schuster gameplan. First, use controversial (and difficult to fact-check) assertions to gain headlines in the Washington Post and its brethren. Second, employ 60 Minutes as a free infomercial; feature an interview with the author regarding the controversial claims. Third, sell lots and lots of books using all of the free marketing channels.

Simon & Schuster has employed this formula before. Richard Clarke's Against all Enemies in 2004 and Pervez Musharraf's In the Line of Fire (weeks ago) were exquisitely timed to coincide with an election cycle. Each used the 60 Minutes infomercial format, plenty of anti-administration rhetoric, and the usual accompanying drumbeat in the mainstream press to flog as many books as possible.

Woodward's central thesis is that things are getting worse in Iraq even though the administration claims things are better. He points to a so-called "secret" chart that shows attacks reaching almost 900 per week in Iraq, which Woodward claims are against U.S. troops.

As Mario Loyola points out, this chart is part of a publicly available DOD report called "Report on Stability and Progress in Iraq." On page 31 of the report, available via a Google search or by clicking the hyperlinked title, the word 'attacks' refers to all incidents (civilians, infrastructure, etc.). Page 32 of the report shows that, in fact, attacks against Coalition forces are markedly down since 2004. More importantly, there is a single problem province out of 18 (Anbar/Baghdad). The remainder of the country is largely operating without any marked violence.

Thus, Woodward's central statistic -- the blockbuster "revelation" breathlessly featured on 60 Minutes -- is utterly without merit. Other of the book's claims also have run into some problems on the fact-checking side:

* The book states Chief of Staff Andrew Card twice tried to get Rumsfeld fired, a claim which Card has vehemently denied and which doesn't appear to be corroborated in any written form

* George Tenet warned Rice two months before 9/11 of an imminent attack, but Woodward doesn't speculate on the Clinton administration's reaction to a similar report in 1998 ("SUBJECT: Bin Ladin Preparing to Hijack US Aircraft and Other Attacks") nor the rationale for Sandy Berger's theft and destruction of classified documents related to 9/11

* Woodward claims that Donald Rumsfeld didn't return Condi Rice's calls, which both parties deny.

Even the New York Times, no friend of the Bush administration, has reported upon multiple controversies associated with the book. For example, why weren't Washington Post employee Woodward's claims featured on page A1 as they were discovered -- if they were truly so incendiary? In other words, unless this is just another book-pitching exercise, why would anyone wait to publish a set of startling revelations?

From all appearances, this is just another example of an integrated marketing campaign where Simon and CBS (both of which operate under the Viacom corporate umbrella) provide support for flogging books. That CBS relentlessly hammers the Bush administration during an election cycle is beside the point. That Woodward's assertions are so easily dismissed with publicly available resources is the real surprise. But I suppose quality has never been a strong point of infomercials.


Oven-fresh good readin', just like Mama used to make:
Weekly Standard: Who's really in denial?
Wizbang: The 9/11 Bombshell that Wasn't"
Samantha Burns: OTA

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Comparing Zawahiri vs. Democratic talking points


Ayman al-Zawahiri -- Al Qaeda's number two man -- released another videotaped message this week. Zawahiri's previous video was timed to coincide with the fifth anniversary of 9/11. The new video featured the firebrand cleric ripping the U.S., the Pope, Israel, and the U.N., not necessarily in that order, for interfering with Al Qaeda's fascist ideological vision.

In what doesn't come as much of a surprise, Zawahiri didn't hesitate to echo many of the Democratic Party's most virulent talking points. Compare-and-contrast:

"War for Oil"


"Why don't you tell them how many million citizens of America and its allies you intend to kill in search of the imaginary victory and in breathless pursuit of the mirage towards which you are driving your people's sons in order to increase your profits?"
Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe says he believes radical filmmaker Michael Moore's assertion that the United States went to war in Afghanistan not to avenge the terrorist attacks of September 11 but instead to assure that the Unocal Corporation could build a natural gas pipeline across Afghanistan for the financial benefit of Vice President Dick Cheney and former Enron chief Kenneth Lay...
“It is clear that the major oil and gas companies were the real winners of the war in Iraq,” stated Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) today. “These sky high profits are a clear indication that while America’s prestige in the world has been greatly harmed by the war, the major oil and gas companies repeated great financial gain...

"Bush lied... people died"


"Can't you be honest at least once in your life, and admit that you are a deceitful liar who intentionally deceived your nation when you drove them to war in Iraq?"
"He betrayed this country!" Mr. Gore shouted into the microphone at a rally of Tennessee Democrats here in a stuffy hotel ballroom. "He played on our fears. He took America on an ill-conceived foreign adventure dangerous to our troops, an adventure preordained and planned before 9/11 ever took place..."
"There was no imminent threat. This was made up in Texas, announced in January to the Republican leadership that war was going to take place and was going to be good politically. This whole thing was a fraud," the Massachusetts Democrat told the AP...

"Killing terrorists causes more terrorism"


...al-Zawahiri called Bush a "lying failure" for saying progress had been made in the war on terrorism. "Bush you are a lying failure and a charlatan. It has been three and a half years [since the arrests of terror leaders Khalid Shaikh Muhammad, et. al.] ... What happened to us? We have gained more strength and we are more insistent on martyrdom..."
Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts... blamed the president's focus on Iraq... "...[it's a] misleading myth that we are fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here. In fact, the war in Iraq has become a dangerous distraction and a profound drain on our financial and military resources," Kerry said...
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada said Bush and Congress needed to change course in Iraq... "The Iraq war has diverted our focus and more than $300 billion in resources from the war on terrorism and has created a rallying cry for international terrorists," Reid said...

Echo Chamber


I'm not sure whose talking points these are any more. But when you can't distinguish the terrorists' talking-points from the Democratic Party's, it's safe to say that both are well outside the realm of mainstream American thought processes.

The Egyptian-born al-Zawahiri is regarded as an ideological founder of al-Qaeda and carries a $25 million US bounty on his head. No word on bounties for other Democratic thought-leaders.

Oh, I forgot. The difference is the Democrats support the troops.


In this, the nuclear age of terrorism, can America really afford Democratic "leadership"?

Vote Republican.

Oven-fresh good readin', just like Mama used to make:
Anchoress: NY Times and Time Magazine - just plain lying, now
GatewayPundit: Five Years After 9-11, Ringleader Atta's Suicide Tape Surfaces
HotAir: Times of London obtains Mohammed Atta martyrdom video
Hugh Hewitt: Slugfest
Jawa Report: New Zawahiri tape
Rick Moran's RWNH: Now I know how Alice felt
RWN: Weekend Links
Wizbang: A Curiously Selective Commitment to Democracy

Saturday, September 30, 2006

Has the Regime Change Iran blog been hacked?


From all appearances, the Regime Change Iran blog has been co-opted, hacked or otherwise compromised. Both of its addresses -- regimechangeiran.blogspot.com and regimechangeiran.com -- redirect to a search-engine spamming site. I've intentionally avoided hyperlinking the addresses for that reason.

Hopefully, we'll see the RCI blog rise again -- like a phoenix on steroids -- quite soon.

Update: RCI is back - but apparently suffering from some funding-related problems. More info as it becomes available.

The laboratory experiment: Socialism


Jay Nordlinger has published a letter he received from a former resident of South Korea:

...The Korean people may be the most ethnically homogeneous people on earth. About 60 percent have one of only three surnames: Lee, Kim, and Park.

North and South Korea had the same history from the dawn of history until 1945.

The Korean peninsula is small, and about 45 percent constitutes the South.

At the time of partition through about 1960, I’d say, the economy of the North was more developed than that of the South. The North had a smaller population, but one that was arguably better educated than the South’s. The North had more industry, too. During the 1950s, the South was absolutely destitute, and survived on food donations from the United States.

Thus, in 1945, an “experiment of nature” was carried out. Take a small, homogeneous country and divide it arbitrarily more or less in half. Then install one kind of government in the north and another kind in the south. Close the curtain. See what happens.

The results speak for themselves, don’t they? Fifty years of Communism produced famine, or near famine. Fifty years of an increasingly free-market system produced prosperity and wider political freedom.

What more does anyone need to know about socialism?

Ayup. (Hat tip: Betsy Newmark)

The Sheikh and the Clintons' Rapidly Rising Net Worth


Last week, the New York Post reported on the odd relationship between the Emir of Dubai and Bill and Hillary Clinton. At this juncture, it's worth pausing to remember the timeline of Chinese espionage against the United States as it relates to the Clinton administration.

The strange case of Bill Clinton and the Chinese Military

On 9/13/1995, President Clinton met with John Huang and James Riady (pictured below). During the meeting, Huang expressed an interest in becoming a fund-raiser for the Democratic National Committee.

In this position at the DNC, Huang raised $3.4 million. The DNC was later forced to return nearly $2 million when a Congressional investigation revealed "problems" with the source of the funds. Huang was later convicted of crimes related to illegally reimbursing campaign contributions with Asian funds. Riady was also convicted of related campaign finance crimes. A U.S. Senate campaign finance report stated that Riady had a, "long-term relationship with... Chinese intelligence."

On 3/14/1996, President Clinton signed an order transferring license-granting authority for military/industrial technology from the State Department to the Commerce Department. This order made it easier for the Chinese military (the PLA) to launch American satellites, over objections from the Pentagon and the State Department. During the Clinton administration, focused Chinese espionage efforts made significant headway in the theft of U.S. military/industrial secrets including those concerning nuclear weaponry.

On 5/25/1999, the U.S. House of Representatives released the Cox Report ("Report of the Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People's Republic of China"), which detailed publicly for the first time China's espionage campaign against the United States. The report was a redacted version of a still-classified report. Approximately 30% of the original report, the unanimous product of a bi-partisan committee, remains classified.

Back to Dubai

The Post's article reveals a web of connections between the Emir of Dubai, Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the Clintons.

Clinton's former press secretary, Joe Lockhart, is reported to have denied he works for the emir. But it now turns out that the Emir's Dubai International Capital Corp. (DICC) hired Lockhart's Glover Park Group (GPG) to help with its U.S. takeovers. Among the takeovers: two U.S. defense firms. Besides Lockhart, GPG's partners include Hillary's chief advisers: Howard Wolfson and Gigi Georges. DICC paid $100,000 for GPG's services.

The Post article questions whether Hillary knew that the emir provided funding to her senior-most campaign consultants. But it seems hard to believe that Hillary, a notorious "control freak", wouldn't have insight into these potentially damaging relationships.

The Clinton family's swelling coffers

Senator Clinton's office claims that GPG never lobbied her on the Dubai ports issue.

But, tellingly, Newsday has reported that other New York officials (including Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Peter King) were contacted.

The Post article reports that the Clintons' net worth has increased quite dramatically in only two short years. In 2003, Hillary disclosed assets of between $352K and $3.8 million.

Only two years later, she declared assets of between $10 million and $50 million. In the past, observers could have pointed to suspect commodities trading practices, but this time no one is quite sure what's behind the Clintons' swollen assets. The Post posits that Dubai may be the answer to the question of what caused Hillary's assets to explode:

* Clinton is a top advisor to Yucaipa, an investment company run by billionaire Ron Burkle, which, through a subsidiary, [manages] the emir's investment portfolio shortly after Clinton joined the firm.

* Clinton gets a flat fee from Yucaipa and a share of the profits on the foreign investment fund it manages. (Hillary's Senate disclosure form notes only that Bill gets more than a $1,000 a year in compensation from this.)

* The emir gave an undisclosed donation to the Clinton Presidential Library -- but it must have been hefty: The library set up a Clinton Scholars program for young people from the Arab nation, the only such program it runs.

* Bill Clinton has twice given speeches in Dubai for close to $500,000.

The Post also notes that the Sheikh may suspect in more ways than one. A class-action lawsuit has been filed against the Sheikh and his brother that alleges a conspiracy to abduct and traffic in, "thousands of small boys from South Asia and Africa to the United Arab Emirates and other Arab states and enslaved them to work as camel jockeys, camel trainers and camel tenders... boys as young as two years old were stolen from their parents, trafficked to foreign lands, and put under the watch of brutal overseers in camel camps throughout the region."

The true relationship between the Clintons and the Emir should be fully and fairly disclosed. Given Bill Clinton's bizarre attentuation to the Chinese military, other questionable links to Dubai merit transparency. Anything less is a continued stain on what little remains of the Clinton "legacy."

Pronounced profundities:
NY Post (via Spencer Blog): Emir's a Gusher For Bill and Hillary
Atlas Shrugs: Atlas Interview: Dick Morris
GatewayPundit: Dick Morris makes Clinton prediction
OneJerusalem: Audio conference call with Morris
Rick Moran's RWNH: Foley matter proves GOP supports perverts!
Wizbang: Conference call with Dick Morris
Wizbang: Dems need more than blustery Bill Clinton...

LA Times: Head-in-the-Sand


Sam Harris' LA Times Op-Ed is a must-read. Money quote:

...We are entering an age of unchecked nuclear proliferation and, it seems likely, nuclear terrorism. There is, therefore, no future in which aspiring martyrs will make good neighbors for us. Unless liberals realize that there are tens of millions of people in the [extremist] world who are far scarier than Dick Cheney, they will be unable to protect civilization from its genuine enemies...

LA Times: Head-in-the-Sand (Hat tip: Pete and Larwyn)

Friday, September 29, 2006

New Al Qaeda recruiting video


The new leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, one Abu Ayyub al-Masri, released a new recruiting message this week. The message was far more professional than previous versions. In fact, it showed a sophistication that bordered on Madison Avenue-quality. Thanks to our patented Blogotronic™ technology, we've summarized and translated the ad into a single, comprehensive blog post:


Have you ever wanted to visit exciting, scenic Iraq? Now, you can get treated like a high-roller, free!


You'll visit the beautiful Tigris River...


...see spectacular sights...


...fight the infidels...


...then blow yourself up in a glorious explosion!


We're up to 4,000 martyrs who've been... -er- ...martyred. Jump on in, the water's fine!


Worried about your career path? Here at Al-Qaeda, we've got truckbomb-loads of opportunities! I, for one, moved up from COO to President of Al-Qaeda-in-Iraq in only two short years.


And now, we're offering signing bonuses for nuclear scientists and explosives experts to join the fight!


Hell, we're not picky! We could use you, even if you're a dentist.


We can satisfy all of your scientific ambitions and there are plenty of innocent civilians on which you can test your unconventional weapons!


Uncle al-Masri needs you! So act now! This offer won't last much longer - unless Democrats take control of America's Congress!


Piping-hot good readin' just like Mama used to make:
Anchoress: Declaring themselves
Captain's Quarters: Senate Approves Detainee Bill By Wide Margin
Hugh Hewitt: It's the war, stupid
RWNH: Council has spoken: double pneumonia edition
Wizbang: Tomorrow's news today

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Quote o' the Day


Memo to the NY Times: Conservatism is Caused by Fighting It

(Hat tip: Larwyn)

Bill Clinton seeks solace in the company of old friends



Hello?


Gennifer. This is Bill. We need to talk. I really miss you. I'm lonely and that crazed monkey Chris Wallace sandbagged me on Fox - hello? Hello?

* * *


Hello?


Kathleen! Hi, this is Bill. I know it's been a while, but did you happen to see that Pathway to 9/11 TV movie? It was a flat-out lie... you there? Hello? Anyone there?

* * *


Hello?


Paula... how are you? This is Bill. Been a long, long time. Just wanted to see how you're doin'? I was wonderin' - did you ever read Dick Clarke's book about 9/11... uhm, hello? Hello? C'mon!

* * *


Hello.


Juanita - long time no talk to. This is Bill. Was checkin' in to see how you are? And if you happened to catch Fox News on Sunday? Did you - dammit! Hello? HELLO! For the love of... oh, man, this is bad.

Okay... last name on the list...

* * *


Hello?


Monica! Bill here - hey, don't hang up! I just...

Bill? Is that really you? Hey, I'm walking through the airport and I really can't talk -


BIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLL! I'M TIRED! COME INTO THE BEDROOM NOW AND RUB MY FEET! I MEAN IT, I HAD A REALLY, REALLY HARD DAY! GET IN HERE NOW!


Busy, honey - on the phone with -er- CNN. Give me just a few minutes!

(whispering) Monica, you there? Monica! Monica? DAMMIT!


Oven-baked good readin', just like Mama used to make:
RWNH: I wouldn't wish it on my own worst enemy
Wizbang: Conference call with Dick Morris

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

The NIE: sections the New York Times censored


In upholding its rich tradition of censorship and national-security-damaging disclosures, the New York Times this week tried again to dent the GOP. The Times cherry-picked a few bits and pieces of the classified National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) document to portray the war on Iraq as inciting more terrorism.


The NIE was released last April. It was a classified document. Tiny portions of it were leaked in, this, the stretch run of an election season -- in violation of dozens of laws -- as a tacit endorsement for Democratic candidates. We're still waiting for a single Times article that reveals an enemy plot, by the way.


The Times' key takeaway? Don't fight terrorism, 'cause fighting terrorists only makes 'em mad. So don't tick 'em off! Retreat... and hope they go away.


No mention of how fighting Al-Qaeda-in-Iraq is somehow not related to fighting Al-Qaeda-in-the-rest-of-the-world. Or how Musab al-Zarqawi, who was in Iraq before the war, will lead more terror attacks now that he's in stable condition in Hell.

President Karzai, the president of Afghanistan, said it bluntly on Tuesday:


...They came to America on September 11th, but they were attacking you before September 11th in other parts of the world. We are a witness in Afghanistan to what they are and how they can hurt. You are a witness in New York. Do you forget people jumping off the 80th floor or 70th floor when the planes hit them? Can you imagine what it will be for a man or a woman to jump off that high? Who did that? And where are they now? And how do we fight them, how do we get rid of them, other than going after them? Should we wait for them to come and kill us again? ...

Now that it's been declassified, I urge you to download your own copy of the entire NIE and peruse it at your leisure. Courtesy of the In from the Cold blog, here are some highlights you won't read in the Times:

* US efforts have, "seriously damaged Al Qaida leadership and disrupted its operations."

* "A large body of reporting indicates that people identifying themselves as jihadists is increasing...however, they are largely decentralized, lack a coherent strategy and are becoming more diffuse."

* "Should jihadists leaving Iraq perceive themselves to have failed, we judge that fewer will carry on the fight."

* "Threats to the U.S. are intrinsically linked to U.S. success or failure in Iraq."

* "There is evidence that [the terrorists'] violent tactics are backfiring...their greatest vulnerability is that their ultimate political solution (shar'a law) is unpopular with the vast majority of Muslims."

* "Progress toward pluralism and more responsive political systems in the Muslim world will eliminate many of the grievances jihadists exploit."

Funny. I don't recall seeing those statements in the Times, the Washington Post, or the Boston Globe. Don't hold your breath waiting for them to appear, either. Unless you're being driven around on Martha's Vineyard by Teddy Kennedy.


Vote Republican.


Slam-dunk reads:
HotAir: Karzai responds to reporter’s question about terrorism
In from the Cold: More of What You Won't Read in the NYT
RUA: A Pretty Sad Commentary
RWNH: Declassified NIE leaves unanswered questions
SWLIP: Journalists assume that you are stupid
Wizbang: National Intelligence Estimate Key Judgements Released